A man arrested over the Cherry Gardens and Clarendon bushfires has faced court.
In the District Court yesterday, Wednesday 13 September, Gregory John McGannon, 63, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of causing a bushfire and one aggravated count of driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit on 24 January 2021.
Prosecutor Kos Lesses told the court the Hallett Cove man was caught with two cigarette lighters, two bottles of wine and a half-full glass, defaced number plates and a blood alcohol reading of 0.145.
He said CCTV footage, expert fire and soil analysis and mobile phone tracking would prove McGannon’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
McGannon, who maintains his innocence, told police he “saw the bastard that lit” the fires and was trying to extinguish them.
The trial is scheduled to continue in four weeks.
